Chapter 14
Fourteen
Jaclyn
Present
“Okay, baby. I love you so much.” I kneel down to be at eye level with Junior. I pull Junior in my arms and he lays his head against my chest as I hold him tightly. I promised myself I wasn’t going to cry when saying goodbye to him. “You promise you’ll be good for Brandon?” Junior nods his head against me and sniffles.
When I told Junior I was leaving and won’t be back for almost a month, he started to cry and ask me why I was leaving and if I would ever come back.
I explained to him that I was going on a work trip and that I’ll be back. I told him that we will FaceTime every night before he goes to bed, even if that means I have to wake up early to see him and say I love him.
Brandon said that he will mostly be sleeping over at my apartment since Junior’s room is there but if anything, he can always go to his apartment too.
My mom said that she will fly to New York to stay with Junior for a week to make sure he’s okay. She doesn’t fully trust her only grandchild with my friendly neighbor yet.
“Please don’t leave,” Junior mumbles against my shoulder.
I look up at Brandon and see him giving me a sympathetic look.
When I told Brandon my plans, the real ones, he almost lost his shit. He never thought I’d be the type of person to go to Hayden’s wedding, especially after all the shit that happened.
But I just can’t help myself.
The dreams I’ve had lately almost always focus on him and in each dream he always tells me how much he misses me and then he kisses me, stealing away my breath.
Brandon told me he supports whatever I’m doing and that’s what friends are for. I appreciate Brandon and everything he is doing for me.
I pull away from Junior and he has some tears falling from his eyes. “Don’t cry baby. It’s okay. You’re going to have so much fun with Brandon and you’ll be such a good boy for me, won’t you?” I smile at him, wiping away the tear stains on his cheeks.
He nods. “I’ll miss you.”
I kiss his cheek and hug him one more time. This time I put my nose in his neck and smell him, wishing I could just take him with me.
But with Hayden and the rest of his family there, it will just cause trouble.
I’m still trying to figure out how to tell Hayden about Junior. I know I should.
I know I’m in the wrong about not letting Hayden meet him but I’m just scared as hell. Just thinking about it makes my mind go into overdrive.
“I’ll miss you, Junior,” I say softly.
“I love you, mommy.”
“I love you more,” I whisper in his ear. I kiss his cheek one more time before standing up. I wipe a tear that fell and then smile down at Junior. I look up at Brandon. “Please call me or text me if anything happens.” I go to hug Brandon.
“Anything. Everything will be okay. Him and I will have fun.” Brandon hugs me back. “You just figure out your shit with Hayden,” he whispers in my ear before letting go of me. Brandon looks down at Junior. “We’re gonna get into some trouble together right little dude?”
Junior smirks, looking just like his father, before nodding his head.
“Not too much trouble,” I scold Junior, which makes him laugh. I grab my luggage and, because I can’t help it, I kiss Junior one more time. “I love you, bub.” I stand up and leave Brandon and Junior.
After I get all checked in with security and baggage, I go to the front desk to check in. “Hi, I’m here to check in.”
“Perfect. What’s your name and phone number?”
I give them my name and phone number and then say “I should have a premium economy seat.”
She types on her computer and furrows her eyebrows. “You’re mistaken, you have a first class ticket, Ms. King.”
Natalia already got me a ticket for Emirates.
I was already guilty about her getting me a ticket with this airline because I know how expensive these tickets are.
“That has to be a mistake. I was booked for premium economy with you guys, not first class,” I say, furrowing my eyebrows.
She shakes her head with a small smile. “No, Ms. King, you have a first class ticket with us today.”
“Is there a way I can refund that and just get a regular economy seat?”
She shakes her head again. “I’m afraid not. We are all booked for this flight. The only way to get to Gaeta would be to stick with your seat.”
What the fuck?
That ticket has to cost more than ten grand.
That’s too fucking much for a ticket.
“There’s no way I can change it? I wasn’t booked for first class.”
This lady probably thinks I’m crazy for refusing a first class ticket.
“No miss, I’m sorry. I wish there was more I could do,” she says, giving me a sympathetic look.
I nod my head. “Okay, thank you.”
“You still want to keep your seat?”
I don’t want to but then Natalia’s money would be a waste and she really wants me in Italy. “Yea, it’s fine.”
She smiles again. “Perfect. Take a seat and we’ll be calling passengers in shortly.”
I take my carry on and sit down in one of the chairs in the waiting area. I pull out my phone and text Natalia, asking her if she changed my ticket and why I’m getting first class.
About fifteen minutes pass until they start telling people to line up.
The bunk they have me in, in first class, is luxurious, almost to the point where I feel like I don’t belong.
There is a huge screen and a soft seat I get to sit in. The window next to me is large, giving me a perfect view of the sky. Don’t even get me started on the drinks menu or the small touches they have in the bunk.
As I get situated I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. I take it out and read the text.
Um, I didn't get you first class. I booked you for premium economy.
I slept for a good five hours on the flight before I got bored of sleeping and just decided to work. I finished up a lot of small projects for Jules which she was pleased with.
Currently I’m in an Uber, on my way to the hotel.
Natalia sent me the address so that I could give it to the Uber driver. Natalia said that Hayden is busy running errands and Nicole is with her family, preparing stuff for the wedding. She told me just to stay in my room since she knows I don’t know my way around Italy.
What errands could Hayden possibly be running?
Those are the questions that always stay stuck in my head.
Maybe he is getting ready for the wedding? He must be so excited to marry his fiancé so he is trying to make sure everything is perfect.
Natalia said that Max and Kayden should be here tonight, which I’m excited for because I haven’t seen them in such a long time.
“Thank you,” I say to the driver after he helps me get my bags out of the car.
He gives me a small smile before getting back in the car. He drives off while I walk towards the entrance of the hotel.
The hotel is definitely luxurious. There is a long driveway and a valet offered at the front where I see people getting in and out of fancy cars like Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls Royce’s, and many others.
I even saw a fucking G-Power BMW which I definitely took a picture of. It reminded me of Kayden since he loves BMW’s or from what I remember he does.
“Need help with any bags?” a guy asks. He has light brown hair and a soft smile on his face.
I smile back and hand them to him. “That’d be amazing, thank you.”
“Of course. What’s your name so I can go put these in baggage so they can get sent to your room.”
“Jaclyn King.”
He nods his head before walking away with my bags. I walk up to the front desk and a woman looks up and smiles at me.
“Ciao. Welcome to the Grand Hotel Mazzaro. What can I help you with today?”
“Hi, I am here for check-in.”
She looks down at her computer and types a few things before asking, “Name?”
“Jaclyn King.”
“Are you here for the wedding of Hayden Night and Nicole Earnings?” she asks me and I can’t stop my stomach from churning because I hate that reason.
I can’t help but feel like a green monster, jealous that Nicole gets to marry him and that I’m just here to watch.
“Yea,” I say, putting a fake smile on.
“Can I have some ID?” I pull out my ID and show her. She gives me the room card and tells me the directions of where to go. “Enjoy.”
“Thank you,” I say before walking away and going towards the elevator.
As I wait in the elevator, I look down at my phone to see my notifications. I see a text from Brandon, so I text him back quickly.
He sent me a picture of Junior eating and laughing. Junior has marinara sauce all over his face, making me laugh.
I didn’t think you watching over Junior would mean he would get all messy. Better not burn down my kitchen!
We’ll be fine! Enjoy Italy.
Don’t forget to give him his meds!
I sent that last text because I just can’t help it.
I exit the elevator and as I’m walking, a hand, warm, strong, and almost familiar, grips my waist and pulls me inside a room.
Just from the heat and his familiar scent I already know who it is.
And the butterflies in my stomach can’t stop swarming.
My heart beats so hard against my chest I feel like it’s going to burst.
He locks the door and turns around, his grayish eyes turn to me, heat filling them.
It’s been five years and he still manages to make me feel like the world stops and it’s just us two.
“Hayden,” I whisper.